Swimming device



.111m 5, www@ A. B. KU PSCHE SWIMMING DEVICE med sept. 16,. 1921 s sheets-sheet- 1 Patented .lune 5, i923.

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ALEXANDER .'B. KUPSCHE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

SWIMMING DEVICE.

Application le. September 16, 1921.V Serial No. 501,165.

T all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, ALEXANDER B. Knrscrrn, a citizen of Latvia, and a resident of Chicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Swimming Devices, of which the following is. a specification.

My invention relates generally to improvements in apparatus for facilitating movement through the water, and has particular reference to improvements in devices which shall sustain the use-r aswell as facilitate movement through the water, and hence serve as a life saving device.

The general object of my invention is to provide apparatus which can be folded into a compact space for storage and which can be quickly and easily made ready for use.

A further object of my invention is to provide apparatus of the character described which may be safely used by any person whether such person can swim or not, and which shall have means for propelling the same through the water; and it is a further object of my invention to provide a Adevice of this character, which can be very quickly adapted for use by a person that desires to swim and whereby greater speed can be secured.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device of the above character which shall be composed of relatively few parts and which shall be safe and durable in construction.

My invention consists generally in the form, arrangement, construction and c0- operation of the parts whereby the above named objects, together with others that will appear hereinafter, are. attainable; and my invention will be more readily understood by reference tothe accompanying drawings, which illustrate, what I consider, at the present time, to be the preferred embodiment thereof. In said drawings:

Fig. 1 is` a view of the device indicating the manner in which it-is ordinarily used by a person unable to swim.v

Fig. 2 illustrates the manner in which the device is ordinarily used by one who is able to swim.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the device, the full line position of the parts being that shown in Fig. 2, and the dotted line position ofthe parts indicating other positions in which certain of the parts may be placed.

Fig. 4 is a detail view partly in section and partly in elevation illustrating the con- Fig. 6 is a face view of one ofthe propeller blades.

Fig. 7 is a face view of the propellers in the position that they occupy when the device is in use.

Fig. 8 is a detail view, on any enlarged scale, viewed substantially along the line 8 8 of Fig l.

Fig. 9 is a detail sectional view, substantially on the line 9--9 of Fig 8, the stabilizing board, however, being shown in its inoperative position. c

Fig. 10 is a detail sectional view of the crank and gear mechanism for operating the propeller shaft. i

Fig. 11 is a view substantially along the line 11-11 of Fig. l0.

Fig. l2 -is a detail view illustrating the mechanism for locking the propeller shaft in Ciihe two positions shown in Figs. 1 and 2; Fig. 13 is a detail view illustrating'the construction of the pedals.

The device may be used merely for pleasure in swimming, but it is especially designed foruse as a part of a life-saving equipment of a vessel and it is, therefore, provided with many novel features adaptr ing it particularly to use. Thus it is so designed that the parts may be all readily folded or positioned in suchmanner that it occupies substantially little, if any more space, than is required for an ordinarysized circular life preserver of the usual construction. And yet, it may be quickly adapted for use not only as a mere device to sustain a person in the water, but also to enable very rapid movement through the water and hence enable the person mere easily and certainly to make his way to a place of safety. i

The device, as here shown, is composed of a substantially U-shaped member 1 which is composed of some relatively light material, such for example, as cork. As here shown, it is composed ofa plurality o fzlayc ers of cork 2, which are threaded upon a metal tube 3. The metal tube 3 serves to add the necessary rigidity to the structure/and, still being made of thin walled tubing, adds i but little weight to the structure.

Mounted or secured to the lower part of the U-shapedstructure is a metal band or sleeve 4 which is secured in placeby suitable stra-ps 5. The sleeve 4 is countersunlr, as indicated at 6, and in the countersu'nk portion 4I lmount another `sleeve 7 which sleeve is provided with a slidable bolt 8.

The sleeve 7 maybe rotated on the sleeve 4 and may be locked in either of two diametrilcally opposite positions by the bolt 8 engaging with recessesprovided in the lugs 9 and 10, respectively. Secured firmly in a boss 11 ofthe sleeve 7y is a brace or tube 12 which at its outer end is firmly attached to a frame or yoke member 13 in which the cross-shaft 14 is mounted for rotation. To

- the outerends of the ycross-shaft 14 there is afliXed the cranks 15 and 16, respectively, having swingably secured thereto the pedals 17 and 18. These pedals are of novel coni struction in that they contain a loop or band 19` which is composed of someV relatively light material, such as'cork, and which, therefore, serves to position the lpedals in the waterso that the feet of the user may very readily inserted.

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Positionedwithin the frame 13 is a frame 20 which serves to support a propeller shaftA s At the outer end ofthe propeller shaft a propeller of novel 'construction' is affixed. The propeller, `in this instance, is composed of three separate independent blades 26,27 and 28, provided with hubportions having openings'adapted to receive the end 21, lof the propeller shaft.` They are mounted for free rotation thereon. The eXtreme end portion of the propeller shaft 21 isthreaded and just inwardly thereof thel shaft is squared. as indicated at l21, and on this squared portion a Washer 29 is mounted. It isV held in place bymeans of the nut 30. Thus, the washer rotates with the. propeller shaft 21. Also mounted on the propeller shaft for sliding movementl is a sleeve 31,

vnormally pressed toward the washer 29 by vmeans of a spring 32. The sleeve 31 is provided with two ypins 33vwhich are adapted to enter openings provided in the washer 29 vand in the hub portions ofthe propeller blades 26, 27v`and 28. yThus, by retracting the hub 31 the pins 33, may bewithdrawn from the propeller blades and the blades can then be all rotated to a single position suchas is shown by means of dotted lines in Fig. 3.k This is the position that they occupy when not in use and when the device, as a whole,is collapsed for storage. To position the propeller blades for use, it is but necessary to swing them around thepropeller shaft 21 and as soon as they reach their proper positions the pins 33 enter into place, thus operatively connecting the propeller blades to the propeller shaft. lt willbe'understood that the hubs of the propeller blades are provided with openings that are so spaced,relative to each other, that the three propeller blades will be spaced fdegree'sapart.

For

peller shaft 21, which it carries, in either of locking the frame 20"an'd vthe prothe two positions shown by means lof full lines in Figs. 1` and 2 the latch mechanism, best shown in Figs. 10, 11 and 12, is provided. This latch mechanism comprises a block 34 which is slidable upon the shaftv 14, beingl normally pressed against the frame 2O by means of the spring 35. The block 34y is provided with two spaced pins 36 and 37 which are adapted to enter either the` two diametrically opposite openings 38 or the two openings` 39 in the huby portion of they yoke `13. from one position to the other it is necessary to 'retract the pins 36 and 37 and 'in order that this may be conveniently accomplished l have provided the foot ortreadle lever 40 which is pivoted on the frame 20 for swinging` movement, and which isattachedl at the other end tothefy-olre 41 that is` pivotally mounted in the block 34 on the pivot members 42"and43 respectively. The connections between member 40 and members 20 and 41 is relatively loose to permit the necessary vswinging movement. The end'porf tions 41 of the yoke 41 form cam surfaces so that when the yoke 41 lis swung toward the element 25, see Fig.- 12, ltheblock 34 is To swing the frame 2Ok me i moved longitudinally of the shaft and the pins 36 and 37 .withdrawn from the openings in the hub portion of the yoke:y 13. 'A piece of strap-metal extends between the ends of theyoke 41 to form a bearing for the spring Thus, the entire frame 20 with the propeller shaft and propeller attached thereto, can be swung from the positionthat it occupiesto a position at right angles thereto. For example, it can be swung from the full line position shownin Fig. 3 to -the dotted line position shown in thaty figure. When it reaches its `new. position it is` automatically locked into place because the pins 36 and 37 are. pressed into place by means. of the spring 35. The manner in l,which the device is ordinarily used by a non-swimmer is indicated in Fig. 1, wherein it will'be observed that the device occupies, as a whole, a vertical position, the user being seated in the U-shaped member 1, which because of its buoyancy serves to support the user.

By operating the cranks 15 and 16, rotary movement is imparted to the propeller which, obviously, propels the device through the water. The propelling action may be assisted to any desired extent by the user manipulating his arms after the manner of swimming. Assuming the device to be operated in the manner shown in Fig. 1, it is obvious that the propeller tending to move the lower part of the device forward would tend to swing the upper part downward, thus unbalancing the user and destroying the effectiveness of the device, as a lifesaver. To counteract this tendency, the stabilizing board 44 is provided. This is made of wood or some other material that will float and is swingably attached to the portion 1 of the device, by means of the yoke 45 and the pivot pin 46. Thus when not in use, this board simply swings downwardly into a position close to the side of the device 1, but when placed in the water swings upwardly to the position shown in Fig 1, thus effectively overcoming any tendency that the propeller may have to swing or over-balance the device. Actual use has shown the effectiveness of the apparatus and that it may be safely manipulated in the condition shown in Fig. 1. In this position, however, movement through the water is relatively slow, due to the fact that not only must the resistance of the device be overcome, but the resistance that the whole length of the body offers.

For one that can swim the device is preferably used in the manner shown in Fig. 2, the propeller being swung into line with the supporting tube or shaft 12 and there locked, as before described. The user still straddles the device 1, but assumes a position in the water such as is normally assumed by a person in swimming, that is to say assumes a position but slightly inclined to the horizontal in which position but little resistance to the forward movement is interposed. Vhen used in this manner the stabilizing board 44 does not function, sufficient stability being givento the device by the swimmer himself.

ln describing the details of construction, I neglected to state that a spring 47 is provided for the purpose of swinging the propeller shaft and its supporting frame to the right angular position shown in Fig. 1 when the locking pins have been removed, as before described, thus enabling the completel foot operation of this change.

While the device serves admirably for life saving purposes, it also makes a device that ing therein, a buoyant element, a propeller mechanism, a support extending between the propeller mechanism and the buoyant element, means swingably joining the propeller mechanism. and said support, means for locking said propeller mechanism in different angular positions, said means including a shaft, an element slidable thereon, and mutually interlocking pins and recesses on the propeller mechanism and said slidable element.

2. A device of the class described embodying therein, a buoyant element, a propeller mechanism, a support extending between t-he propeller mechanism and the buoyant element, means swingably joining the propeller mechanism and said support, means for locking said propeller mechanism in different angular positions, said means including a shaft, an element slidable thereon, and mutually interlocking pins, and recesses on the propeller mechanism and said slidable element, and a foot lever connected to operate said slidable element.

3. A device of the class described embodying therein a buoyant element, a propeller mechanism carried thereby, and cranks for operating said propeller mechanism, said cranks having pedals fitted with buoyant straps.

4. A device of the class described embodying therein, a U-s'haped buoyant element, a propeller mechanism, a support extending between the propeller mechanism and the buoyant element, means swingably joining the propeller mechanism and said support, means for locking said propeller mechanism in different angular positions, said means including a shaft, an element slidable thereon, and mutually interlocking pins and recesses on the propeller mechanism and said slidable element.

5. A device of the class described embodying therein, a U-shaped buoyant element, a propeller mechanism, a support extending between the propeller mechanism and the buoyant element, means swingably joining the propeller mechanism and said support, means for locking said propeller mechanism in different angular positions, said means including-a shaft, an element slidable thereon, and mutually interlocking pins, recesses on the propeller mechanism and said slidable element, and a foot lever connected to operate said slidable element.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, this 23 day of August, 1921.

ALEXANDER B. KUPSCHE.

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